incubate
[ in-kyuh-beyt, ing- ]
/ ˈɪn kyəˌbeɪt, ˈɪŋ- /
verb (used with object), in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing.
to sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
to hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to: His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.
verb (used without object), in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing.
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Origin of incubate
OTHER WORDS FROM incubate
in·cu·ba·tive, adjectiveun·in·cu·bat·ed, adjectiveWords nearby incubate
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for incubate
British Dictionary definitions for incubate
incubate
/ (ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪt) /
verb
(of birds) to supply (eggs) with heat for their development, esp by sitting on them
to cause (eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop, esp in an incubator or culture medium
(intr) (of eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop in favourable conditions, esp in an incubator
(intr) (of disease germs) to remain inactive in an animal or human before causing disease
to develop or cause to develop gradually; foment or be fomented
Derived forms of incubate
incubation, nounincubational, adjectiveincubative or incubatory, adjectiveWord Origin for incubate
C18: from Latin incubāre to lie upon, hatch, from in- ² + cubāre to lie down
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for incubate
incubate
[ ĭn′kyə-bāt′, ĭng′- ]
v.
To maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
To maintain a chemical or biochemical system under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for incubate
incubation
[ ĭn′kyə-bā′shən ]
The act of warming eggs in order to hatch them, as by a bird sitting upon a clutch of eggs in a nest.
The act of keeping an organism, a cell, or cell culture in conditions favorable for growth and development.
The maintenance of an infant, especially one that is ill or born before the usual gestation period, in an environment of controlled temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration in order to provide optimal conditions for growth and development.
The development of an infection from the time the pathogen enters the body until signs or symptoms first appear.
Other words from incubation
incubate verbThe American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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